Abyssal Awakening-Chapter 939: Scouting The Nightmare
Miki listened to the report while watching portals open across her city. There was a slight frown on her face but she didn’t say anything.
The issue of transport was sorted.
So long as Alice was being fed the crystals, she’ll be able to maintain the shortcuts.
Materials were being delivered far ahead of time and evacuation was also being assisted.
Based on the current speed of their work, everything should be sorted within 3 hours give or take. The only things left to do would be to actually reinforce the walls and upgrade the weapons.
Was it handy? Yes it was. Very much so and as much as Miki didn’t want to admit it, they needed this kind of break.
However, now that Alice has revealed herself, questions will begin to float around. 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚
Why didn’t they use portals before? Why couldn’t they have done this earlier.
Or in the future, they may ask where the portals are.
No doubt after this battle, she’ll have to make a public announcement letting them know about what had occurred.
Hell, even the people outside were being transported to safety.
Massaging her head, Miki let out a deep fatigued sigh.
"Perhaps you should take a break before the battle captain. We need to make sure you are at your best after all." Her assistant suggested but Miki shook her head.
"No need. I’m just stressed about the press that I’ll have to face after the battle."
Hearing this, the assistant smiled. Even though Miki didn’t say it, this was the most optimistic she’s been for a battle despite the enemy numbers.
Whether she wanted or not, Alice’s arrival has given her a boost in confidence. Especially when Alice will help regardless of what she says.
"Don’t hold back on the materials that Bai Suyin needs. Used as much as you can. She won’t be here for long so we should take advantage of this as much as possible."
"Understood. I will pass down the order." Giving Miki a salute, the assistant left the room while Miki watched as the entire city mobilised through the portals in order to carry out their tasks.
###
"F*cking sh*t..." Alice complained while someone was changing out the crystal placed next to her.
A technician hurriedly replaced the drained crystal at her side. The moment a new one connected, a new tether of energy was attached to Alice’s body, causing her to jolt from the sting. A numbness that spread across her body.
Alice took a deep breath and exhaled.
During combat, this wasn’t an issue since she’s only opening the portals briefly into the Void, allowing any attacks to be swallowed up and be disposed of.
But this wasn’t the case right now.
For the portals she has to open in Grand Cathia, each one had to be big enough to sustain moving large quantities of people or material.
Keeping on up was fine.
Two? Easy.
Ten might be a bit rough but Alice was confident that it could be manageable.
But opening more than twenty across the city was seriously draining her energy!
It was akin to holding open the jaws of a starving beast trying to eat her.
"Just keep this up for now. We’re moving all the materials to where we’ll need stuff to be done as well as speeding up evacuation. Once it’s all been sorted, you’ll be able to focus on forging some of the more annoying pieces I need." Suyin said while analysing a blueprint of the city’s defences along with where the attack would be the heaviest.
"I’m not cursing at them! I’m cursing at how many portals I have to keep open!" Alice replied through gritted teeth.
However, both Alice and Suyin knew that wasn’t the reason the technicians were afraid.
Even without an ability like Cayla, they could sense how much energy was being emitted by Alice right now!
Each time they approach to swap the crystals, their alarm bells were warning them of the danger!
Should Alice even target a fraction of the energy she was using towards them, they would be torn apart like being thrown into a blender!
It didn’t matter how many safety procedures was in place, just approaching Alice felt like a death sentence.
"Anyways, you mentioned studying from the Abyss Lord of the Forge earlier. What can you forge exactly?" Suyin asked curiously.
The man who created the number series, powerful weapons with effects that border on relics. Anyone would die to get their hands on one of his equipment.
In fact, she even copied Sigurd’s naming system with her own stuff, attaching numbers onto her creations.
It was a little embarrassing to say but she was a big fan. They were responsible for different aspects of creation yet she aspired to be like him. Creating masterpieces that everyone would desire.
"Well he showed me a few things and asked if I wanted to be his successor. Obviously I said no since-"
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU SAID NO!" Suyin shouted, jumping over and grabbing Alice by the collar.
"Huh???" Alice blinked her eyes in surprise.
"This is the Lord of the Forge we’re talking about! The only one in this world who can forge master pieces on par with relics and yet you turned him down?!" Suyin’s heart bled.
Such an opportunity... wasted in such a manner. Alice had spoken about it before in brief detail but never mentioned she rejected his invitation!
"Okay okay stop shaking me." Alice was getting dizzy as Suyin calmed herself.
"I needed to go elsewhere so I can’t exactly stay and study under him. Plus, I had him promise some equipment to me so it should be fine."
"You could’ve learned the secret behind crafting numbered equipment though..."
"I mean that’s probably more to do with his Sigil and authority more than anything. But setting that aside, I saw his forging techniques with my own eyes. A little bit of prep will be all I need to craft some stuff. I can probably even reinforce the equipment we have now." Alice adjusted her shirt while Suyin jumped down.
"I guess that makes you a half disciple... What a waste." Suyin lamented.
But if Alice didn’t want to succeed the Lord of the Forge, what else could she do? It’s not like she could forge Alice to study under Sigurd.
###
It took a few hours for all of the evacuation to be complete with Alice consuming crystal after crystal to keep the portals open.
But once the evacuation was done, she was allowed to stop.
The city had become silent.
The countless stalls now empty.
All that they could hear were the rumbling of machinery and industrial hammers reinforcing their defences.
In the distance, a deep purple started to bleed into the sky. A sign of the approaching army.
With her no longer being needed as a battery, Alice stood upon the walls and looked out.
Elias volunteered himself to help with the medic squad since casualties will no doubt appear on the battlefield.
Suyin was still preparing blueprints for the stuff she needs while instructing people to get the materials ready.
Alice was simply waiting for orders since there wasn’t much else for her to do.
And since that was the case, she decided to do a bit of scouting.
[Alright, I think we’re ready to send out a drone. I’ve linked everything up to make sure we don’t get hit by any kind of backlash if we get discovered.] Cayla gave Alice a thumbs up as she nodded her head.
Snapping her finger, a droplet of blood appeared in front of her.
Little by little, it began to leak with blood dripping against the floor, transforming into a mirror like surface.
Within the mirror, eyes made from blood blinked to life.
Alice had to admit, it was a creepy looking thing but it was handy.
A layer of blood washed over her right eye, connecting her vision to the eyes within the mirror.
Immediately, her view was fractured as information flowed into her mind.
The link was established and Alice shattered the mirror, sending the fragments flying towards the distant purple haze.
Since it was connected to Cayla, Alice could see the strands of Nightmare energy pouring out from the sky. This quantity was far greater than what the Sentinels were outputting.
And if that was the case...
’Why aren’t they attacking yet? Or are they waiting for the full army to appear?’ Alice wondered with a slight frown.
As always, there was the option for her to made the first move, to attack the enemy before they could attack.
But something felt off.
The enemy was gathering an army that could easily wipe out a city yet they’re still waiting.
Almost as if they wanted the city to put up a struggle.
Why?
Was it to foster their desperation?
If so, it would certainly explain why such a large army was being amassed.
She tried to get closer in order to get a better look. Yet the veil of Nightmare energy prevented from entering. A natural barrier against Abyssal energy.
Snapping her fingers, violet flames burst out from each of the eyes as she hoped to burn away the Nightmare energy.
It worked to a certain degree however...
[Pull back. Any further and they’ll probably launch a counter.] Cayla warned as Alice nodded.
She noticed that the moment her flames came into contact with the veil, the entire mass of Nightmare energy seemed to twitch. All of it was connected and trying to invade it without being detected was impossible.
With no other choice, Alice retreated for now while created a portal next to her. It was time to forge some of Suyin’s weapon parts.
